Failure to startup when adding WinXP !

[ztwebmaster]

Hi,

I have a server equipped with Win2003 Server, and when i installed WinXP Pro in the same HDD Win2003 Server failed to start. Any idea ?

Thank you in advance !

Joseph,
Webmaster, System Administrator
{zt} Network Solutions

 

[wolluf]

So you installed XP after 2k3? Did you put XP in its own partition? (definitely should). I'd suspect the issue is probably ntldr and ntdetect.com - you've overwritten 2k3 ones with XP ones. In general newer versions of these will boot older versions of o/s (so 2k3 should boot NT, 2k, XP), but not vice versa. Just replace the XP versions with 2k3 ones from the 2k3 install CD (in \i386) - they're in the root of C:.

 

[ztwebmaster]

Wolluf,

Thank you for your hint, that's something that i didn't knew. But i installed each OS in its own Partition, so i think nothing is overwritten ??? Right ?

Joseph,
Webmaster, System Administrator
{zt} Network Solutions

 

[wolluf]

Wrong! Unless you hide the first partition while installing second o/s. Otherwise all NT based o/s (NT/2k/xP/2k3) will just use the existing boot sector on the first partition - and overwrite it with their own boot files.

Also, without a 3rd party boot manager (which you don't mention), the only way you are going to get a dual/multi-boot menu for XP/2k3 is by them bot using the same boot sector. So, just put the 2k3 files back in root of C: like I suggested and see if it works!